Parasites of stray dogs in the Rabat region, Morocco

Abstract

Eighteen parasites were identified from 57 stray dogs from the urban and rural areas of Rabat. The prevalence of the species of parasites was: Ctenocephalides (C. canis, C.felis) 94·7 %, Rhipicephalus sanguineus 68·5%, Linguatula serrata, Babesia canis, Isospora canis each 3·5%, Toxocara canis 7%, Dirofilaria immitis, Taenia hydatigena, T. pisiformis each 12·3%, Dipetalonema dracunculoides 10.5%, Ancylostoma caninum 17·5%, Echinococcus granulosus 22·8%, Toxascaris leonina 33·3%, Dipylidium caninum 40·4%, Spirocerca lupi 54·5%, Unicinaria stenocephala 79%. Multiple infections (two to nine parasites) were seen in 56 dogs. T. canis was present only in dogs younger than one year of age. D. immitis, D. dracunculoides, T. hydatigena and T. pisiformis occurred only in animals older than one year. A. caninum, U. stenocephala, S. lupi, D. immitis were more common in males than females. E. granulosus was never detected in urban dogs.